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I have always wondered this. QBs always seem to say "55 is the Mike" before every snap, but the OL never seems to shift protection or compensate in any different way. Just wondering what the significance of this is._________________

but the OL never seems to shift protection or compensate in any different way. Just wondering what the significance of this is.

That's where you are wrong. The "mike" to the blocking scheme can be any of the linebackers or even a DB or maybe even a D lineman depending upon the formation. Everyone that's blocking knows precisely what they need to do when the QB calls out the "mike." It could be something as simple as the LG, C, or RG taking the "mike" as their responsibility depending upon what side of the field the identified "mike" is on. The pre snap identification of the "mike" becomes the focal point from which all post snap switches are made.

it helps with OLine counting. if the center thinks the mike is 55 and the gaurd thinks its 56 then the blocking will be off. it doesnt shift the scheme it just keeps everyone on the same page show they know who to block._________________

vikingsvikings wrote:

I don't understand most of that, but I can tell it's probably inaccurate.

The quarterback is redirecting the protection. If there is 3 linebackers, and he says the MLB is the mic, then that means the center will account for the MLB if he is blitzing, and the the running back(s) will account for the OLB's on their side if they happen to blitz.

If the quarterback says one of the OLBs is mike, that means a Safety, or a corner is blitzing, from the outside shoulder of that OLB, which means that the protection will now account for the MLB, the OLB and that outside blitzer and not account for the other OLB because 90% of the time teams will not blitz that weakside OLB.

That's just a simplified version of it, when you are deal with different defenses, it can get a lot more complex._________________

It's unclear to me how you could think protection isn't impacted by the call when no one has moved yet and the play has yet to begin._________________[quote="Mark Twain"]Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination.[/quote]
QBvsDefensiveQuality

I heard Brian Billick in commentary say that the MIKE is identified as a player that the O-Line is responsible for.

I don't specifically know how this works and how it affects play-calls but I'll listen to the SB winning HC._________________Adopt-a-Patriot '14: Danny Amendola Status: Allegedly Deflating Balls On The Sideline

Since the tackles and guards usually account for the tackles and ends. The center is almost always the guy with nobody to block, so he's directly responsible for the mike. So he identifies the mike as the possible extra rusher.

When you see the QB call out the mike, it's because he wants the center to block someone else that might not necessarily be in front of the center. But when he calls that out, it allows for the HB to then know who he's supposed to block. Because HBs are taught to block the next man over._________________